TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:
x

« Prev Next »

Return to Results | New Search

Bookmark and Share

Title:

THE PEACE RIVER HIGHWAY BRIDGE--A FAILURE IN SOFT SHALES

Accession Number:

00263385

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

This paper deals with the failure of the Peace River highway bridge and the stability of slopes in soft shales formed by heavy overconsolidation of alluvially deposited clays under the weight of glaciers. Geologically these are classed as soft rocks, but in many instances no cementation of the particles has occurred. The only physical alteration to the original clays has been compression due to the consolidating pressure from glaciers during the Pleistocene period. These shales are presently in a state of rebound and on release of overburden pressure, along with access to water, they may revert to soft clays, frequently having high swelling characteristics. The mineralogical constitution of the clay minerals does not appear to be the predominant factor governing the swelling characteristics. Rather, these appear to vary with the physical-chemical environment of the pore water and adsorbed moisture films. Such soils are of wide occurrence in the northwestern portion of the North American continent. The paper deals with the performance of such materials in engineering construction in northwestern Canada, and points out the deficiencies of conventional methods of analysis for predicting their behavior. The swelling mechanism and its significance are discussed, and suggested improvements in concepts for anlayzing the stability of slopes in such materials are presented. /Author/

Supplemental Notes:

Paper was sponsored by Committee on Landslide Investigations. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Monograph Accession #:

01418551

Authors:

Hardy, R M

Pagination:

p. 29-39

Publication Date:

1963

Serial:

Highway Research Record

Issue Number: 17
Publisher: Highway Research Board

Media Type:

Print

Features:

Figures (7) ; References (10)

Old TRIS Terms:

Subject Areas:

Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways

Files:

TRIS

Created Date:

Dec 13 2003 12:00AM

More Articles from this Serial Issue: